Donald Emerson Strain

Donald Emerson Strain, age 82, died in Prineville, Oregon on August 12, 2015 of pancreatic cancer with his wife and children at his side.

Don was born in Seattle, Washington on June 26, 1933 to Donald K. and Orel (Edwards) Strain.  The Strain family had a peach orchard in Woodinville, Washington and Don's early roots and memories were of working along-side his father in tending and harvesting the peach crop.  Don graduated from Bothell High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1953.

He joined the Air Force and served as an Airport Traffic Duty Officer primarily in Tokyo, but also served brief stints in Thailand, India and the Philippines.  Upon his discharge as a First Lieutenant he went to work at The Boeing Company in Seattle as an Industrial Engineer. 

In 1960 he met and married Dianna (Reinhardt).  Their honeymoon home was a houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle where they lived for three years, during which time Don attended the University of Washington graduate school and received an MBA degree in 1963.  He was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, an International Honor Society comprised of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business.

In 1964, Don and his family, Dianna, daughter Katherine and son Douglas moved to Portland Oregon where he worked at the CIT Corporation in industrial finance until 1967 when the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska.

Outside of his family, Don's love was of Alaska, where they lived for 37 years.  Don was the Assistant District Director of the Small Business Administration for Alaska, from 1967 until his retirement in 1993.  He and Dianna acquired property on Resurrection Bay out of Seward under a unique "Open to Entry" recreational program in 1968.  They built a cabin in Humpy Cove where the family spent virtually every summer weekend, Don loved to fish from his boat the "Salmon Ella" and in 1997 caught a record 380 lb halibut, which at the time was the largest ever sport caught halibut in Resurrection Bay.

He and Dianna also built a remote cabin at Gunsight Mountain in Alaska, where the family spent their winter weekends snow machining and simply enjoying the beauty of the winter landscape.

They moved to Prineville, Oregon in 2004 into a home their son Doug built for them overlooking the Crooked River Valley.  Don was an inspiration to all who encountered him throughout his life and also during his brief illness, which he accepted with grace and dignity.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of 54-years, Dianna, his daughter Katherine Ross (Bruce) of Anchorage, and son Douglas of Bend.  He was especially proud of his three grandchildren all of whom have excelled in their individual pursuits, William Ross, Allison Ross and Chase Strain.  He is also survived by his brother John Strain of La Conner, Washington and by his step-mother Beverly Strain of Kenmore, Washington.

A Memorial Mass will be said at St. Joseph Catholic Church in September.  Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul of Crook County, P.O. Box 545, Prineville, OR.  97754.  Or to the St. Charles Hospice of Prineville, 236 N. Main St., Prineville, OR  97754.

The family has entrusted Prineville Funeral Home with arrangements please watch their web site for dates and times.     

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